Category: China

It was just about three years ago when my friend, Lucie told me that her husband was going to take a position in China and her family was going to move to Shanghai.

Shanghai?! How exciting! Despite the fact that I had never traveled outside of North America, I knew that I had to visit her there.

It was to be my first trip “abroad” and it was going to be to China!

We’re going to China!

Lucie and her family were moving to China quite hastily and it was uncertain how long they were going to stay, so my husband and I had to act fast. Another couple was going to join us on the journey, so we quickly coordinated our schedules and picked the dates. Plane tickets were bought. Visas obtained. I put a big red circle on the calendar. We were going to China!! But wait…what exactly do you do in China? What is there to see? Of course we wanted to visit with our hosts, but I wanted to get out and see the sights, too.

It was in the few weeks preceding this trip that I met a dormant personality that was living inside myself. It was like there was someone deep down inside of me that I didn’t even know. I had experienced an awakening from within and the person that emerged wanted to venture out to see the vast world that was swirling all around me. The first stop was set to be Shanghai (with many thanks to Todd and Lucie).

Lucie, Todd and their daughter Veronica had left for China and were settling in to their new environment. I figured out how to Skype and had a few sessions with Lucie. I quizzed her about what it was like and what types of things there were to do and see. She hadn’t been there long and was still discovering the environment for herself. I went to the library and checked out piles of books. I became intimately acquainted with TripAdvisor. I spent many nights researching activities, consulting with my travel mates, creating a spreadsheet that was brimming with ideas and filling the calendar with destinations. This deep-seated personality absolutely thrived on making plans. Finally, the red circled day had arrived…

We are somewhere over the Pacific Ocean.

After a quick flight from Seattle to Vancouver, we got settled into our 12 hour Air Canada flight to Shanghai. Rarely, if ever, am able to sleep on a plane. It’s a curse, really. Luckily, on international flights you can choose from an assortment of movies that you never really wanted to see. I watched three or four of said movies and put the finishing touches on our itinerary. There were only four more hours to go…

Ahh… Cup O’ Noodles…Welcome to China.

When I didn’t think I could possibly stand it even one second more second, a familiar smell washed over me. Not the outhouse smell that had been wafting out of the well-used toilet, but something a little more welcoming. What could that be? Was it… Cup O’ Noodles? Why, yes it was. The once scarce flight attendants were now flooding the aisles to deliver our “Welcome to China” treats. We were about to arrive! I slurped up my noodles with more enthusiasm than I thought was possible after 12 sleepless hours on a plane. I couldn’t believe it… We were there!